Bad ideas in the making
The New York Times > Planners Consider a Riverfront Without the F.D.R. DriveDemolition of the F.D.R. viaduct will be considered by the city's newly designated planning consultants for the East River waterfront in Lower Manhattan: the Richard Rogers Partnership of London, a leading British architectural firm, and SHoP/Sharples Holden Pasquarelli.
I'm convinced now that within one generation there are going to be "forward-thinking" architects and designers mourning the loss of the great city roadways, like Boston's Artery and (possibly) FDR Drive. There will always be cars in the city (really only more and more), and there's nothing like flying through a city in your own vehicle. Of course, this love of big city infrastructure is nothing more than the original pro-car, booster spirit that we had in the 50's. But maybe this time around people will focus on the drama and excitement of it all instead of the pragmatics. It's kinda Futurist, I suppose.
* Ray, 5/13/2004 10:11:59 AM
